Automatic circuit-closer attachment for telegraph-keys.



1. L. WHITET AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER ATTACHMENT FOR TELEGRAPH KEYS.

APPLICATJON'HLED JULY'I9. 1917 1 2MA65T v Patented Apr. 30,1918.-

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Specification of Letters lE'atcnt,

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Application filed July 19, 1917. Serial No 181,519;

To cZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, Janus L. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, resident of Buffalo, in the county of Leon and State of Texas, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Automatic CircuitCloser Attachments for Telegraph-Keys; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in the positions assumed when a message is being sent.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the invention.

The invention has relation to circuit clos-' ers for telegraph keys, having for its object to provide improved means for automatically closing the line circuit to the next station or stations, immediately upon release of the key by the operator, after sending a message.

The invention consists in the novel con struction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the numeral 2 designates an ordinary telegraph key, of which 3 is the base and at. the key lever, the contact 5 of the latter closing the circuit upon depression of the key, by engagement with the opposite Contact 6. Contact 6 has the usual electrical connection, insulated from the base 3.

The line circuit is normally closed by engagement of an intermediate portion 7 of the flat switch lever 8 with a contact leaf 9 of the electrical connection leading to the,

contact 6.

' In order to open the line circuit when the key is to be used in sending a message and to close the circuit when the key is out of use, it is necessary to employ a switch of some description, and in the present case the switch or circuit-controlling lever 8 is pivoted at one end thereof to one side of the base 3, at 10, and is extended in a curved manner to the opposite side of the base and of the key lever, adjacent to the head end of the latter. The switch lever is fiat or planular and curved as stated, and at the end thereof located adjacent to the head 11 of the key lever is engaged by the downwardly projecting end portion 12 of a circuit opening lever. 13, the latter having a vertical portion 13 engagingpivotally a vertical perforation 14; of the head of the key lever. A horizontal terminal portion 15 of the lever 13 is located upon the top surface of said head.

In use, the finger of the operator being placed upon the head of the key lever, is shoved or slid to one side thereof, in this way operating the lever 13 and thereby the switch lever to open the circuit, the horizontal or handle portion 15 of the lever 13 moving pivotally over the top of the head of the key lever, until it engages an upwardly pr0 jecting stop 16 of said head. The operator then proceeds as usual to send the message and upon removing his finger from the hea of the key lever and from the handle portion of the circuit opening lever, the spring 17 of the switch lever at once retracts the same into renewed engagement with the contact 9, to close the line circuit. The spring 17 is connected at one end thereof to the base 3, at 18, and at its opposite end engages the switch lever at a point intermediate of the contact 9 and the pivotal end of said lever.

During the operation of the key the friction between the end portion 12 of the cir- 'cuit opening lever and the spring-pressed switch lever is suflicient to vibrate the latter 1n unison with the key lever, there being no movement of these parts at the point of contact. Owing to the limited degree of move ment of the key lever, and the distance between the point of contact and the pivot of the switch lever, the degree of vibration of the latter is infinitesimal.

The device is readily and quickly applied as an attachment to any telegraph key, by drilling a few holes in the base and head of the key lever of the instrument, and its advantages have been demonstrated practically.

The horizontal handle portion of the lever 13 is located always over the head of the key lever, near the central portion thereof, so that the operator in placing his finger upon the key lever is at once advised by sense of touch of the presence of the circuit opening lever, and naturally slides or shoves said handle portion out of the way, to open the circuit before sending the message.

I claim:

The combination of a telegraph key having a base, a key lever pivoted to said base and provided with a head, the latter having a perforation and an upwardly projecting 10 wardly and outwardly extending work arm engaging the free end of said switch lever, and a return spring for the switch lever connected at one end thereof to said base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. WHITE.

Witnesses:

E. L. SHEPHERD, J. O. SPRINGFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

